Well this is bad news.
UPDATE – the identify of the hijacker has been released:
Update – Cypriot state television reports #Egyptair flight #MS181 hijacker is 27-year-old Egyptian national Ibrahim Samaha
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) March 29, 2016
End update.
Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we'll publish an official statement now. #Egyptair
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) March 29, 2016
Breaking: Plane hijacked, lands in Cyrpus. #EgyptAir plane w/ 55 passengers – @Reuters https://t.co/UP4aUP1bnw https://t.co/Rg3knbRJI0
— Errol Barnett (@ErrolCNN) March 29, 2016
Plane Hijack: EgyptAir confirms hijacking.82 people onboard Flight:Reports. https://t.co/cDbNlTAOKW
— NewsX (@NewsX) March 29, 2016
.@EGYPTAIR Airbus A320 with 82 passengers on board has been hijacked. https://t.co/R8Ti8s0NXZ #breakingnews #7News https://t.co/EzC6aLy6Uq
— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) March 29, 2016
Egypt Air Passenger Plane Hijacked. Egypt Air Flight MS181 Hijacked. https://t.co/acKoWyAT2q
— NewsX (@NewsX) March 29, 2016
The New York Post says there might be a bomb on board:
Egypt’s civil aviation authority says an EgyptAir plane has been hijacked while flying from the Egyptian coastal city of Alexandria to the capital, Cairo.
A Cypriot government official says the hijacked plane landed on Tuesday morning at the airport in Larnaka and that there are suspicions of a bomb on board.
A second Cypriot official says there “seems like there’s more than one hijacker.” He says there have been no demands other than that police vehicles move away from the aircraft.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.
Remember Egypt has been targeted by ISIS before – let’s hope this isn’t another terrorist attack.
Update – #Egyptair airline says "flight #MS181 is officially hijacked" and a statement will be published shortly
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) March 29, 2016
Update – Cyprus state broadcaster: hijacker thought to be strapped with explosives and police asked to back away from plane #Egyptair #MS181
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) March 29, 2016
UPDATE: The hijacker is requesting political asylum, and not believed to be terror related.
— News_Executive (@News_Executive) March 29, 2016